FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 196, 27 January 1915, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

On tile occasion of the recent Hoods in Westknd, a dairy farmer living along Nine-mile road missed a valuable bull, and gave it up as drowned. After three weeks tile animal was discovered alive, caught in a tangle of blackberry , bushes. It had kept itself alive by eating vegetation within reach, lint was much emaciated. 'You can tell the Department of Agriculture from me," said Mr J. H. Coleman, at the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society's meeting in discussing the ■harm done by blackberries, "that, unless same active steps are taken to eradicate blackberries, I will live long enough to gee the whole of New Zealand affected." A new record for the Pelorous Sounds in the sheep-shearing line was established by four men at Port Ligar on the loth inst. (reports the Guardian). In one day of eight hours 40 minutes, no leg than 864 sheep passed through their handsy the individual scores being C. Borck, jun., 246; D. Borck, 237; A. Henderson, 208; and L. Borck, 173. A Mangamairc fanner, Mr F. W. Blatehford, had a splendid return from ' a line of ewes this season (says the 1 Pahiatua Herald). The lambs reared J by 204 ewes totalled 280, a percentage .of 137. Of these 95 per cent, "were recently drafted by a fat stock buyer, while the balance were varded at a stock sale in Pahiatua and •realised 10s fid each. The poisoning of rabbits by settlers j is being encouraged by the Department | •of Agriculture in the Auckland district (remarks the Star). A start is being made on a methodical plan in the Maraetahi riding, Waitemata country, commencing on 15th February. Settlers are invited to co-operate by acting simultaneously with their neighbors in order to reduce the pest to a minunum. The inspector of rabbits is taking an interest in the matter, and good results are looked for. 1 The rabbit pest in some districts of the Dominion has decidedly decreased, and in others it has almost entirely disappeared. The Department of Agriculture reports that in much of the high country where rabbits were at one time very numerous, and a Bource of infestation to the lower country, there are now scarcely any to be seen. This reduction is attributable mainly to the action of the natural enemy. In the Waitaki district, for instance, the pest is now scarcely noticeable. I

Says the Wairarapa Daily Times:— "A showing how scarce water is becom-! ing in the country, it is stated that wells in the Taueru district, have not been dry for thirty-eight years,, are no longer giving water. The position is. even worse at Tinui, and stock are suffering considerably. The wheat crops in the Masterton district are particularly free from the Hessian fly this season. Owing to their being a shortage of feed and water on their properties, several Masterton farmers and station-holders have hired grazing in Taranaki and the Forty-Mile Bus.i.

Several interesting comments regarding the prospects of New Zealand dairy produce were made to a Pahiatua Herald representaive by Mr 'A. M'Farlanc, ex-chairman of directors of the Ballance Dairy Company and a member of the Wellington Harbor Board, who returned to*Xew Zealand recently after a trip to England and the Continent. Mr M'Farlane stated that he found that New Zealand stood in excellent favor at Home, and the prospects for both oui butter and cheese were exceptionally bright—in fact, they were never better. Owing to the war, supplies from various sources had been cut off. Moreover, Denmark had experienced a dry season, and this would prove another J factor in benefiting the New Zealand trade. Large quantities of produce were needed to feed the troops. Each soldier was allowed four ounces of i cheese per day, so it looked as if cheese would do remarkably well this season. Margarine, however, was a serious competitor with butter. It was sold at 5d and 6d per pound, and many people hardly recognise the difference between it and butter. I A I'ood deal of traffic in sheep and wool from Waitotara has been going on since the beginning of the year. Already almost 8000 sheep and lambs, and close on 700 bales of wool, have been forward-) ed, the value of the consignments being approximatev about £20,000. A line of 1900 fat lambs, including first and second quality and tegs, just sold at Messrs Mellsop, Eliott and Co. on account of a well-known farmer in the Manawatu, have realised 18s net per head. The Star says the directors of the Oroua Freezing Works Company have | had such strong assurances of support both in finance and stock from farmers that the enterprise is to be entered upon energetically at once. Tt is the intention to have the works In operation so as to deal with stock next freezing season.